The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-04-09
FRIEND DECKER'S REWARD.

"The days are shortening" sighed
Friend Decker. as he folded up his
Ispectacles and replaced them in their
tin case, "or else my sight isn't what
1t used to he. Welladay, one can't
expect to he young always. Is it
thee. Leah? did not look for thee
so s00n."
Leah Decker came into the room
like breezy young "hirlwind.
She had none of the repOse Of man
ner which is at present so much in
vogue. Born and bred Quakeress.
there was nothing of the Quakeress
about her, except her quaint Scrip
lture name.
.'Yes; its me ~ said Leah. shortly.
/ Ibid thee 90 TO Friend Anastasia?''
Egently inquired the old man, re-ad-
busting the big pine logs so that they
,shouId burn brighter for Leah's BEN
eft.
" ycSt l. was tbCiC'
IL hope she is better OF her rheu
matism."
"Yes: she is better. But-hut =
she will not buy the apples. father.
Mean, stingy old thing ~ cried Lee
ah, vrathfullv, flinging he cOal-scut
tie bonnet on the table. "She says
she can buy all she wants, at 90 cents
a barrel. Of old Jacob joyce; so she
can, perhaps; wretched, knurly.
wormy knots, not fit for pigs; Our
are apples! She says thee asks an ex
Orbitant price"
Friend Decker slowly shook his
head.
Friend Anastasia is under mis-
| apprehension" said he. Eighty
cents barrel is what they are pay
ing at the cider mill. Only one does
not like to see such beautiful, rare
coIOred fruit ground into haleful spir.
its to set mans brains on fire."
"Much she would stop to think of
that" sail Leah, still ruffelet.
"I am sorry" said Friend Decker,
mildly, II need the money much.
and | think she would have been
better satisfied with my apples than
with Friend Jacob Joyce's."
"And after all that" flashed out
Leah. the spirit of indignation rife
within her. "she had the impudence
to ask me for jar of plum sauce
made. She says Friend Mary told
her how nice it was, and -"
"And." quietly interposed hei
father. .thee said. 1 hope, that thee
would be glad to Oblige her."
"No. didn't" biuntly answered
Leah. III said that l gathered the
wild plums myself in the CrOOE
wood, and cooked them after AUnt
Mahala's recipe, and that there were
, four jars and wanted tn keep then
for thee; especially since thy health
was so poor and tiny appetite so var
iahle."
II am sorry. dear" said Friend
Decker, "Friend Anastasia is very
old. and old people are apt to be fan
ciful ahOnt trifles. Moreover. she''
our kinswoman, a degree or two re
moved, perhaps, but"
"Then why don't she do something
for u.s." flashed out Leah, "beside
giving US good advice and torment
ing us with her fault-finding?
didn't mean to mention II. father
but she told me out and out that sh'
had adopted Moses Sawyer, and tina
she meant to make him her heir"
swell, daughter, Why should sh
not ?" composedIy questioned tn
old man.
"Because ne IL no relation to her u
ALL" cried Leah, "and the propert!
all came from our Great-grandia!he
LennOx, thee knows"
"Thee attaches too much impOr
tance TO mere dress, Leah" sai'
i Friend Decker. "Thee must stud.
the text Of the lilies Of the field in th
Bible. I'VE shall vii he provided 10
| ii only we tan have patience I
! watt"
Leah bit her full. red under lip
she glanced around the sparsely-fur
nished room. ami noticed her falf
er's dropping figure and rapid
whitening head, hut she made H~ re
ply as she took up the e,arse pile G
vests on which she had been wUrkin
button-hoIes tor u neiyhbOring elOtf
ing contractor
"Father's q SAINT thought sht
"but / am not, and am afraid
z never shall be. l should like to Gu
off Anastasia Akerly's ears. Ii e\
cry one had their rights, halfOf tina
big Lennox farm would he ours. Sh
gained possession of it by the mere'